Functional outcome following conservative management of acetabular fractures

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Acetabular fractures are complex injuries caused due to high velocity injury and constitutes about 18 % of Pelvic fractures. To obtain articular congruency and anatomical reduction is the gold standard in treating these fractures. In this study we have studied about the functional outcome in acetabular fractures managed conservatively with the long-term follow.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A retrospective study with prospective analysis done between 2011-2020 involved 39 patients with acetabular fractures who were treated conservatively at St John’s Medical college Hospital. Patients were followed up at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and at the end of 5 years for functional evaluation and assessment with the clinical outcome scores with Merle d’Aubigne and Postel score & Harris Hip Score.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Study included 39 patients with the average age of 41.3 years with 31 male and 8 female patients. Functional outcome score showed good to excellent results in 80%, fair to satisfactory results in 18%, 0.5 to 2% had poor result in the patient analyzed with both Merle d’Aubigne and Postel score and Harris Hip Score. 80 % of the patients were able to sit cross legged, 90% had returned to regular work and 10% of the patients changed their occupation to desk jobs.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Conservative management of acetabular fractures gives a good long-term result following congruent reduction of the fracture, good early rehabilitation and gradual weight bearing. Return to activity of daily living was good even in congruently reduced acetabular dome fractures with good to excellent functional outcome scores.</p>